User Reviews

Overall Rating:

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Submitted by
Bruce
a AudioPhile

Date Reviewed: September 17, 2014

Bottom Line:

-This Ortofon Salsa mc cartridge is my second low output moving coil cartridge, after years of many moving coil cartridges.
-It is also my first other than elliptical stylus, a line contact type.
-For the last 2 years I have been enjoying a Denon DL 301 Mk ii teamed up with a pair of Shure step up transformers ($ 50.00/pair on ebay). This cartridge (the Denon) really delivers the goods, especially on a well recorded LP. I did not know how good the bass could be on an LP, and again the Denon delivers.
-Last month I got a chance to by a low hours Ortofon Salsa (20 hours-claimed). When received, a microscope view of its stylus confirmed that this was a low hours cartridge. The square shanked line contact stylus is just beautiful.
-After mounting the Salsa into my beloved VPI Traveler version 1, I gave the Salsa about 5 full LP albums before taking a serious listen to her.
-This Ortofon Salsa is really a nice sounding cartridge, and is definitely a step up from the Denon DL 301/ii.
-Most noticed were the cymbals. The line contact stylus on the Salsa is just wonderful, forward, and real sounding in this area.
-At first I thought the Salsa was just a little more polite sounding than the DL301/ii, but is is just more accurate, and musical. It is a better listening cartridge on my lesser quality albums, making them enjoyable, where as the Denon made them more so show to be almost unlistenable.
-Am very happy with the Ortofon Salsa, and for its price give it 5 stars.
-Equipment Marantz 7c and 8b into a pair of 1980 Klipsch LaScalas (alnico).
-Also, the Ortofon Salsa shows how really good the Shure step up transformers are.
-The Salsa is now a discontinued cartridge, and I feel lucky to have found one with low hours.
-If you see one for sale, buy it!!!!!!
-Thanks for reading, Bruce